Spark intensifier



H R PRINDLE SPARK INTENSIFIER Flled Jan 15 1920 Nov. 2

' INVENTOR TToRNEYs Patented Nov. E, 192%.

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SARK INTENSIFIER.

Application filed. January 15, 1920.

My present invention comprehends a novel construction ot a spark intensifier, by the employment of which the koperator of an internal combustion engine can always ascertain by a glance at the intensifier whether or not the spark plugs are operating in the proper manner.

1t further comprehends a novel construction ot a spark intensiier which is a permanent part ot the ignition system of theengine ,and which serves not only as a tell-tale to visibly indicate that the proper spark is being produced in an enginecylin'der ,but also serves to intensify the spark so that a hotter spark is obtained.

lt further comprehends a novel construction of an intensiiier comprisingan insulating plate or body portion having overlapping conductors spaced from each other, one oi said conductors being in electrical connection with the main electrode oi the spark plug and the other of said conductors being in itself connection with the lead from the high tension circuit.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter appear in the detailed description of myV invention.

lFor the purpose of illustrating my invention, l have shown in the accompanying dr wing a typical embodiment of it which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. lt is to be understood, however, that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure 1 represents, in perspective, a conventional type of spark plug in conjunction with which a spark intensifier embodying my invention is employed.

Figure 2 represents a top plan view of my device, certain of the parts having been removed tor the salie of clearness of illustration.

Figure 3 represents a section on line 33 of Figure 2 showing in addition a portion oi asparl; plug and the connection to a conductor.

Figure el represents a section on line 4 -4- of Figure 2. y

Figure 5 represents, in perspective, and in detached position, one of the conductors.

Figure 6 represents a top plan view of the insulating plate in detached position.

Serial No. 351,625.

Similar numerals indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

1 designates a spark plug of any desired or conventional type and isprovided in the usual manner with the main electrode 2. 3 designates the body porti-on of a spark intensifier embodying my invention, such body portion preferably consisting ot' a plate of insulating material having `the spaced apertures et and 5, the diagonally extending groove 6 in itsV upper face, the apertures 7 and 8 on one side of the groove `6 and `the apertures 9 and 10 onthe opposite side of the groove 6. v

11 designates one of the` conductorsand 12 designates the second conductor. These conductors may be constructed of any desired conducting material, but have obtained the best results by constructing the conductor 11 of hosphorbr-onze and the conductor 12 of herman silver. Each oi these conductors hasythe same `formation, as will be understood by reference to Figure 5, from which it will be seen that each conduotor consists ot an integral piece ot material defiected upon itselil to form a loop 13, `a rectilinear portion 14, the tree ends terminating in the `prongs 15 and 1 6. The prongs 15 and 16 of the conductor 12 hav- .ing a `driving' lit in the apertures 7 and 8 respectively.

The conductor 11 is deflected upon itselt in a similar manner to form a loop 17 and a rectilinear portion 18, and the prongs at the 'l'ree ends of the conductor 11 have a driving iit in the apertures 9 and 10 respectively.

llVhen the parts are assembled in this manner, the loop 13 surrounds the aperture l1, and the loop 17 surrounds the aperture 5, and the rectilinear portion 1li of the conductor 12 is disposed in parallelism with the rectilinear portion 18 of the conductor 11.

It will thus be seen thatthe rectilinear portion ot the conductors overlap each other and owing to the provision of the groove 6 in the insulating body portion they can readily be assembled in proper relation to each other by simply placing a wire in, this groove and bringing the rectilinear portion of the two conductors into parallel relation with each other.

The aperture t is adapted to receive the upper end of the main electrode 2, which is in electrical connection with such electrode when the nut 19 is tightened to bring it into engagement with the conductor 12 which also serves to secure the spark intensifier with respect to the spark plug.

2O designates a screw which passes through the aperture 5 and is provided with a plurality of nuts 21, thereby forming a binding post. The high tension lead 22 is secured in position between the nuts 21.

The operation will now be readily apparent to those skilled in this art, and is as follows Assuming the intensifier has been secured in the position described with respect to the spark plug and the engine is running, a spark gap is formed between the portions 14 and 18 of the two conductors and the spark will jump across such gap each time a spark is formed between the main electrode 2 and the auxiliary electrode 23.

It will be understood that one of these intensifiers is preferably attached to each spark plug so that the device serves as a tell-tale to visibly indicate to the operator whether or not the proper spark is being obtained between the main electrode 2 and the auxiliary electrode 23.

A much hotter spark is obtained in any spark plug when my device is employed than when the high tension lead is connected directly to the main electrode in the usual manner.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful spark intensifier' which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that such embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A spark intensifier' comprising an insulating plate, having a groove in its upper surface, a conductor having a rectilinear portion disposed on one side of said groove, a second conductor having a rectilinear portion disposed on the other side of said groove in parallel relation tothe rectilinear portion on the other side of said groove, a binding post in electrical connection with one of said conductors, and means engaging the other ofl said conductors to secure the plate to a spark plug.

2. A spark intensier comprising an insulating plate having a groove in its upper face, a conductor comprising a strip of material deflected upon itself and having its ends extending into said insulating plate and provided with a rectilinear portion disposed on one side of said groove, a second conductor deflected upon itself and having its free end extending into said plate and disposed on the other side of said groove, and having aV rectilinear portion extending substantially parallel with the rectilinear portion of the other conductor, a binding post secured to said conductors and said plate having an aperture in proximity to the second conductor to receive the main electrode of a spark plug.

HAROLD" n. PRrNnLn. 

